Non-refillable bottle.



No. 859.177. PATENTED JULY 2, 1907.

J. R. HOLLAND & 0. H. BUGK.

NON-REFILLABLE-BOTTLE.

APPLIQATION rum) 0012s. 1906.

rm: upmus PETERS cm, musmuarzu, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH R. HOLLAND AND CHARLES H. BUCK, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed October 23, 1906. Serial No. 340,172.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Josnrn R. HOLLAND and CHARLES H. BUCK, of Binghamton, in the county of Broome, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Non-Refillable Bottles, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in non-refillable bottles in which a tubular metal stopper is inserted into and locked within the neck of the bottle in such manner that it can be only removed by the breaking of the bottle. In this class of devices it is necessary to provide means for permitting the entrance of air simultaneously with the discharge of the liquid from the bottle and at the same time to prevent refilling of the bottle with liquid through the liquid discharge or air inlet.

The essential object of my invention is to provide a self-closing valve adapted to open the discharge of the liquid when first emptying the bottle and closing automatically against the re-entrance of liquid with the bottle in any position.

A further object is to provide means for automatically closing the air inlet by liquid With which it is attempted to refill the bottle.

A further object is to incorporate the entire mechanism within the metal stopper which can only be removed by the breaking of the bottle, and is adapted to be re-used in another similar bottle.

Other objects relating to the specific structure of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings,Figure l is a sectional view of a portion of a bottle and my improved stopper therein. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a detached stopper. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the outlet valve. Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified air inlet valve.

The bottle, as 1, which may be made of glass or any other suitable material, is provided with a comparatively long neck 2 and a head 3, the latter having an enlarged annular recess 4 forming an annular shoulder 5 at the inner end of the recess 4 for receiving and limiting the inward movement of a collar 6 of rubber or other yielding material.

A tubular metal stopper 7- is inserted through and snugly fitted within the collar 6- and extends into the neck of the bottle, and is provided at its upper end with an annular shoulder 8-, which engages the outer end of the collar 6 and holds the latter against outward displacement, the inner end of the tubular stopper 7 being provided with spring arms -9 having laterally projecting hooks or shoulders 10 which engage and interlock with an annular shoulder 11 on the inner end of the neck of the bottle, thereby locking the stopper against withdrawal or outward displacement.

The outer end of the tubular stopper 7- is provided with a cork receiving socket or annular flange 12 and two or more transverse partitions 13 having openings 14 arranged out of vertical alinement with each other, and which permit the exit of the liquid and inflow of air, and at the same time prevent malicious interference with the interior mechanism through the medium of wires or other implements. The inner end of the tubular stopper 7- is provided with a transverse partition -15 having an opening 16, surrounding which is one end of a tubular valve 17 of rubber or similar flexible material projecting toward the outer end of the neck of the bottle and having its outer extremity substantially flat and split at 18 so that the opposite sides close together.

The opening -16 and inner end of the tubular valve 17 communicate with the interior of the bottle, and it is evident that by splitting the tubular valve at its outer end, or at some intermediate point, whereby the portions of the valve at opposite sides of the slit automatically close against each other, when the bottle is inverted the liquid will be permitted to flow out freely through the opening 16- and slit l8, and thence, through the openings 14- and mouth of the stopper when the cork, as '19., is removed.

During this outflow of the liquid, it is, of course, necessary to provide some means for permitting the entrance of air to facilitate the outflow of the liquid, and for this purpose I have provided the partition 15 with a second opening 2lthrough which is passed a metal tube -22- extending from a point above the inner partition 15 through the opening 2l and some distance into the bottle 1-- forming an air passage therethrough from end to end.

The outer end of the air tube 22- is adapted to be opened and closed by a suitable valve 23, which in this instance, is mounted upon the inner end of a valve stem -24, said stem being movable in a suitable guide 25 and having its outer end provided with a cup 26 for the reception of a float 27 for a purpose presently described.

A comparatively small rod -28 extends entirely through and is movable in the air tube 22- and has one end secured to the valve 23 and its inner end projecting a slight distance beyond the inner end of the tube 22 to which is secured a perforate substantially spherical cage 29- for receiving and retaining a weighted ball 30.

The float 27- and ball 30- are free or separate from the rod -28- and parts connected thereto, the float 27 being movable into and out of the cup 26- and a suitable pocket -32- which is slightly separated lrom the cup to allow communication of the latter with the interior of the tubular stopper 7 so as to allow the liquid with which it may be attempted to refill the bottle to act upon the float and force it into the cup 26 upon which it acts to close the valve 23-.

When the bottle is in an upright position the float -27- naturally drops into the cup 26, and the weight of the latter, together with that of the float, operates to close the valve -23, the latter operation being aided by a comparatively light spring 33- which is interposed between the guide 25 and adjacent side of the valve 23. The tension of this spring 33 is just suflicient to close the valve -23 and to keep it closed during partial tilting of the bottle, or until opened by the engagement of the ball 30 with the inner end of the rod 28-.

The crib 29 is somewhat larger than the outer dimensions of the ball 30 and is of such shape, preferably spherical, as to cause the ball 30 to recede from the adjacent end of the rod 28 when the bottle is in an upright or tilted position, but when the bottle is brought to an inverted position for emptying the liquid therefrom the ball 30 which is of sufficient weight to overcome the resistance of the spring 33 engages the inner end of the rod 28 thereby forcing it endwise outwardly to open the valve 23- against the action of the spring 33 so as to allow air to pass from the interior of the stopper 7 through the tube 22 and into the bottle to take the place of the discharging liquid.

The tube 2Z is rotatable in the opening 21 which is closed by suitable gaskets 35 to prevent the escape or re-entrance of liquid therethrough, said tube having a lateral air outlet 36 surrounded by a flexible, as a rubber valve -37 flattened at its discharge end and slit at 38 to permit the inlet of air into the bottle, but preventing the exit of liquor therethrough, said valve 37 being similar to the valve 17.

Secured to the side of the tube 22- opposite the outlet 36 is a weighted arm 39 by which the tube 22 is automatically rotated in the opening 2l as the bottle is rotated in the hand so that the weight will always be at the bottom side of the bottle, thereby bringing the valve 38 at the top side of the bottle where it is free from liquid, and therefore enables the air to escape into the bottle more freely.

In\the operation of emptying the liquor from the bottle, the latter is brought to an inverted position which causes the weighted ball -30- to engage and operate the rod 28- to open the valve -23 against the action of the spring 33 which allows the air to enter through the tube 22 and valve 37 into the interior of the bottle to replace the liquid which is now discharging through the valve l7 and ports 14. This operation continues as long or as often as the bottle is inverted.

Assuming now that an attempt is made to refill the bottle by its immersion in a liquor with which it is desired to refill the bottle: If the bottle is immersed in the liquor in an upright position, the liquor will simply enter the portion of the tubular stopper 7- above the partition 15-,but can not get into the tube or valve l7 by reason of the automatic closure of the slit 18, and it cannot pass through the air tube -22 because the valve -23- will be closed and held closed by the spring 33. These conditions of the valves 17 and 23 will remain in any tilted position in which the bottle may be immersed in the liquid, but if the bottle should be immersed in the liquor bottom side up, whereby the weighted member 30 will operate upon the rod -28- to open the valve 23-, then as soon as the liquor reaches the level of the float -27 the latter would be buoyed up into and against the cup 26 with suflicient force to overcome the weight of the ball 3()-, and thereby close the valve -23-, it being understood that the weight of the ball and specific gravity of the float with reference to the liquor are so related as to cause the float when actuated by the liquor to close the valve 23 against the action of the weighted member 30. Furthermore, it would be quite impossible to refill the bottle without simultaneously expelling the air and the slit 38- in the valve S7 being normally closed and comparatively small would be insufficient even though liquor did enter the tube 22 to permit the simultaneous entrance of liquid to and exit of air from the interior of the bottle.

In Fig. 5, I have shown an air inlet tube 22 having a self-closing valve 23- which is mounted upon and closed by a spring 33. This spring is secured at one end to the stopper 7 and its other end extends some distance above the valve 23- and normally lies against one sid e of the tubular valve 7, the opposite side of said valve resting against an abutment 40- on the adjacent side of the stopper 7. The object of this abutment 40 is to hold the valve against lateral movement in that direction so that when the bottle is invertedto discharge the liquid through the tubular valve 17 said valve will be inflated by the liquor causing the side which bears against the outer end of the spring 33 to bulge laterally against said spring with suflicient force to open the valve -23- thereby allowing the entrance of air to the interior of the bottle while theliquor is flowing out.

When the bottle is emptied of its liquor and the valve 17 collapses by its own action, the valve 23- closes automatically by the action of its supporting spring -33- thereby preventing the refilling of the bottle (no matter what position it may assume) with the liquor with which it .is being attempted to refill the bottle.

This is a particularly simple but effective structure and may be manufactured at a minimum cost What I claim is 1. In a non-refillable bottle, a transverse partition in the neck or the bottle provided with liquid and air openings therethrough, a self-closing valve for the liquid opening allowing the exit of the liquid when the bottle is inverted or tilted and preventing the entrance of liquid from the exterior to the-interior of the bottle, a self-closing valve for the air opening, means brought into action by inverting the bottle for opening the valve of the air passage, and further means brought into action by the inflow of. liquid into the mouth of the bottle for closing said air valve.

2. A non-refillable bottle having a liquid outlet and self-closing valve for the outlet, and an air inlet tube rotatable in the neck of the bottle and provided'with a self-closing valve opening laterally from one side into the bottle, and means brought into action by the rotation of the bottle when in substantially horizontal position for rotating said air tube and keeping the air valve on the upper side of the liquid.

3. In a non-refillable bottle, a tubular stopper inserted in the neck of the bottle and provided with means for engaging the bottle and locking it against endwise movement, said stopper having a transverse partition provided with liquid and air openings therethrough, a self-closing valve for the liquid opening allowing the exit of the liquid When the bottle is inverted or tilted and preventing the reentrance of liquid from the exterior to the interior of the bottle, a self-closing valve for the air inlet, means brought into action by the inverting of the bottle for opening the valve of the air passage, and further means brought into action by the inflow of liquid into the mouth of the bottle for closing said air valve.

4. A ,non-refillable bottle having a liquid inlet and a self-closing valve therefor adapted to be opened by the outflowing liquid, an air tube in the neck of the bottle having an inlet in its outer end and an outlet in its inner end, self-closing valves for said air inlet and air outlet, and means brought into action by the inversion of the bottle for opening the air inlet valve.

A non-refillable bottle having a liquid outlet and a self-closing valve therefor, adapted to be opened by the out flowing liquid, an air tube in the neck of the bottle having an inlet in its outer end and air outlet in its inner end, self-closing valves for said air inlet and air outlet, means brought into action by the inversion of the bottle for opening the air inlet valve, and means brought into action by the re-entrance of liquid into the mouth of the bottle for closing the air inlet valve.

6. In a non-refillable bottle, a tubular stopper, and means for locking it in the neck of the bottle, said'stopper having a liquid outlet and a self-closing valve for the outlet, an air inlet tube rotatable in the stopper and provided with a self-closing valve opening laterally from one side into the bottle, and means brought into action by the rotation of the bottle when in a horizontal position for rotating said air tube and keeping the air valve on the upper side of the liquid.

7. In a non-refillable bottle, a tubular stopper having means thereon for automatically locking it in the neck of the bottle, said stopper having a liquid outlet and a selfclosing valve therefor adapted to be opened by the outflowing liquid, an air tube in the stopper having an inlet in its outer end and an air outlet on its inner end, selfclosing valves for said air inlet and air outlet, and means brought into action by the inversion of the bottle for opening the air inlet valve.

8. In a non-refillable bottle, a tubular stopper having means thereon for automatically locking it in the neck of the bottle, said stopper having a liquid outlet and a self closing valve therefor adapted to be opened by the outflowing liquid, an air tube in the stopper having an inlet in its outer end and an air outlet on its inner end, selfclosing valves for said air inlet and air outlet, means brought into action by the inversion of the bottle for open ing the air inlet valve, and means brought into action by the reentrance of liquid into the mouth of the bottle for closing the air inlet valve.

In witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands this 16th day of October 1906.

JOSEPH R. HOLLAND. CHARLES H. BUCK.

Witnesses W. W. FARLEY, GEO. .I. MeDnvrrT. 

